“Finland is interested in Malaysia, interested in being present here and cooperating and partnering. Finland is Malaysia’s 15th-largest trading partner within the European Union (EU), while Malaysia is Finland’s third-largest trading partner in Asean. Highlighting other industries, Vasara said the halal industry is a particularly interesting area due to the growing Muslim population in Finland. “I believe it is approximately 2.5%, and as Finland continues to receive immigrants, demand for halal products is growing. At the same time, the availability of halal products is still relatively limited.

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia want Malaysia to remain as peace facilitators to help the two countries reach a lasting solution to their ongoing border dispute, said Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Foreign Minister said it is untrue that Malaysia has failed in facilitating talks between Thailand and Cambodia along its disputed borders. “We are no longer the Asean chairman as the Philippines has taken over, but both countries want Malaysia as a facilitator. In July last year, armed conflict erupted between Thailand and Cambodia over a border dispute. During the Asean Summit in October, Cambodia and Thailand signed the KL Peace Accords.

HONG KONG/DUBAI/MILAN (Jan 20): Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings is weighing listing its global telecommunications business in London and Hong Kong as early as the third quarter after spinning it off from the group, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The company started preparations for the telco spin-off early last year after clearing all regulatory approvals for a US$19 billion (RM77 billion) tie-up of its UK assets with Vodafone, Reuters reported at the time. CK Hutchison, founded by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, is eyeing London as a primary listing venue and Hong Kong as a secondary venue for its telecoms businesses in Europe, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia that could be valued at around US$20 billion, said the people. The telco unit would be on the fast track to be included in London's FTSE100 index, said one of the people. Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank are working with CK Hutchison on the spin-off listing, two of the sources said, cautioning however that plans are still fluid and the listing time could change.

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X has approved a new management structure with several reappointments following the group's consolidation exercise, which entailed the airline's aquisition of AirAsia Bhd and AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AAAGL) from Capital A Bhd . Benyamin Ismail has been appointed general manager, and will continue to be the accountable manager in running the day-to-day operations of AirAsia X as an airline operating company. "With Bo's proven leadership and deep understanding of the business, we are confident AirAsia X is in good hands. Each appointment brings relevant experience and capability that will support AirAsia X as it continues its transformation and long-term value creation journey," said AirAsia X chairman Datuk Fam Lee Ee. AirAsia X also announced the successful listing and quotation of 606.06 million placement Shares and 2.31 million consideration shares, marking the completion of its proposed private placement.

A VIRAL video has been making the rounds on social media, claiming that our planet will experience a terrifying phenomenon next month. The video alleges that Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds on Aug 12, potentially causing millions of deaths, and that NASA has been secretly preparing for this event under the alleged multibillion-dollar Project Anchor. Verdict:FALSEThe viral video claiming Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds on Aug 12 is completely false. NASA has denied the baseless claim and explained that Earth's gravity depends on its mass and cannot simply disappear. Some provided explanations to clear up the confusion amongst other social media users, clarifying that gravity does not depend on cosmic events such as black hole collisions.

The new all-cash bid — at US$27.75 a share — has unanimous support from the Warner Bros board, according to a Tuesday regulatory filing. Paramount shares were down 1.9%, while Warner Bros' shares down 0.5% in early trading. Alex Fitch, portfolio manager for Harris Oakmark, the fifth largest investor in Warner Bros with about 96 million shares as of Sept 30, predicted the bidding war for Warner Bros may not be over. "The merger consideration is a fixed cash amount to be paid by an investment-grade company, providing [Warner Bros] stockholders with certainty of value and liquidity immediately upon closing the merger," Warner Bros said. "A cash bid strips away uncertainty and is unquestionably more appealing from Warner Bros.’ perspective, even if it does nothing to ease regulatory scrutiny."

PUTRAJAYA: There will not be a return of the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) examinations, confirms Fadhlina Sidek. Looking at the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026-2035, we must move forward," she said after the launch of the National Education Plan 2026-2035 today (Jan 20). The reinstatement of the UPSR and PT3 examinations has been a topic of hot debate since the exams were abolished in 2021 and 2022 respectively. On Jan 9, she had hinted at the possible return of the two examinations after the national education advisory council reviews the matter. Fadhlina stressed that the ministry has strongly defended its position that there will be no UPSR or PT3 examinations anymore.

He said practices that undermine moral values in the education system, including bullying, must not be taken lightly, even if they involve only a small minority. It is a destructive practice that damages the identity and culture of a school,” he said at the launch of the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035 here on Tuesday. Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, as well as Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Anwar said that although education portfolios are led by the education and higher education ministers, the responsibility for education actually rests with the entire Cabinet, including in national planning and budget allocation. Under Budget 2026, the government allocated RM66.2 billion to the Education Ministry and RM18.6 billion to the Higher Education Ministry.

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with Thaipusam, and in anticipation of an estimated 2.5 million visitors to Batu Caves, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will offer free rides on its Klang Valley Komuter services for two days. He said a total of 609 Komuter trips have been planned for the occasion. He said an additional 216 trips specifically for Batu Caves will also be available compared with the usual 98 trips daily services. He said the volume of passengers for the Komuter is expected to be 450,000 during the free rides offered on Jan 31 and Feb 1. Loke said 30 shuttle buses will ply three main routes namely Pasar Seni Hub, LRT Gombak and MRT Kampung Batu to Batu Caves at 10-minute intervals.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ideas from the Opposition that bear merit should be considered, says a government backbencher. “Recognition is due for proposals that bear merit. He also urged former Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers who have since turned government backbenchers to continue contributing through Parliamentary Special Select Committees (PSSC). “This supports the drafting of more mature policies,” he said. Hasni added that while the various Cabinet reshuffles reflected the government’s bravery to adapt, it should not impact the continuity of policies.

(Jan 20): Sony Group Corp is spinning off control of its home entertainment business, including the flagship Bravia television brand, to Chinese rival TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd, the latest Japanese company to cut exposure in the low-margin segment. The PlayStation maker said on Tuesday it will sell a 51% stake in its home entertainment arm to TCL. TCL, one of China’s oldest and largest electronics conglomerates, has for years tried to forge a major overseas business. Sony Bravia TVs survived due to their positioning at the premium tier of the market, where consumers are willing to pay more for high-end picture and sound quality. The company’s longtime marketing positioned the hardware as an extension of the Sony creative ecosystem, a way to experience content as intended by creators using Sony gear.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd (KL:MITRA) said on Tuesday that the contract awarded by the Malaysian unit of Australia’s NEXTDC Ltd has been increased to RM844.66 million from RM801.8 million announced in September last year, following a latest variation order. In a bourse filing, the group said the contract — awarded to its subsidiary Pembinaan Mitrajaya Sdn Bhd by NEXTDC Sdn Bhd — has been varied to include the construction of data centre main works in Kuala Lumpur for Phase 3 of Stage 1 for RM42.81 million. This marks the fourth variation order for the project, which is expected to be completed by July 28 this year, said Mitrajaya. In September last year, Mitrajaya announced that the contract sum had more than doubled from RM375.5 million to RM801.8 million to include the construction of data centre main works in Kuala Lumpur for Phase 2 of Stage 1, Stage 2, and Phase 1 of Stage 3, amounting to RM426.3 million. NEXTDC announced in 2023 that it plans to develop a data centre facility in Kuala Lumpur, with an investment of RM3 billion in Malaysia over five to 20 years.

Guided by its enduring philosophy of “Eat Well, Live Well”, the company promotes healthier, balanced lifestyles while preserving the tastes Malaysians love. This long-standing commitment has built a strong foundation of trust among Malaysian consumers and business partners alike. Leveraging the Ajinomoto Group’s global expertise in AminoScience, the company develops products that enhance flavour while supporting better nutrition. Beyond households, AMB has established itself as a trusted halal food solutions provider for international markets, combining strict halal compliance with a deep understanding of local and regional food cultures. Through its taste solutions, halal-certified products and educational initiatives, AMB continues to inspire Malaysians to prioritise their health through healthier choices at every meal.

PUTRAJAYA: Children in Malaysia will begin pre-school at the age of five and enter Year One at six starting in 2027, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “In 2027, parents may choose for their children to enter Year One at either six or seven years old. “From the age of five, children will enter pre-school, and at six, Year One,” he said. He added that preparations would be accelerated, stressing that immediate action has been directed to both the Education Ministry, and the Finance and Economy Ministries to ensure that basic facilities are expanded. “That is good, but I am confident in the capacity of these ministries, so we will fast-track the implementation.

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has lauded the implementation of the Malaysian Learning Matrix test for Year Four and Form Three students. The Umno president said the party had been asking for the return of national examinations. During the launch, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would reinstate a centralised national assessment system for primary schools starting in 2026 for Year Four students. He said the Examinations Board would administer the Malaysian Learning Matrix test for Year Four and Form Three students, marking the return of national examinations. As for higher education, Ahmad Zahid said the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2026-2035 aims to address the mismatch between what is taught in higher education institutions and the needs of the job market.